Friday, May 23, 2008 5 Negrenses campaigning in nat'l open trackfest
FIVE athletics standouts from Negros Occidental are confirmed to be seeing action with the national team in the 2008 National Open Track and Field Championship.
The championship fires off on May 29 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex oval in Manila.
The host country is fielding 50 athletes, among them the five Negrenses topbilled by Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) record holder and gold medalist in men's hammer throw Arniel Ferrera.
His teammates are Jerro Perater, long distance runner Julius Sermona, hurdler Joebert Delicano, and sprinter Sheena Atilano.
Former Palarong Pambansa talent Atilano of La Carlota City is currently training in the United States together with long jumpers Henry Dagmil and Marestella Torres.
Sermona, the former national Milo marathon champion from Himamaylan City, will run the 5,000 meters.
Delicano is from Victorias City while Ferrera is from Cauayan and Perater from Binalbagan, Negros Occidental.
Five other countries are participating in this year's open, including Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Hong Kong and Sabah, while still to confirm their entries are Malaysia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei and Macau.
Sermona told Sun.Star Bacolod in a text message yesterday they are bent on nailing qualifying slots to the August Beijing Olympics through their stint in the RP Open. "This is our last chance to qualify for Beijing so we definitely have to give it our best."
The RP contingent is headed by SEAGames gold medalists Julius Nierras, Rene Herrera and Ferrera as well as former marathon champion Eduardo Buenavista.
Others in the team are Nelbert Ducusin, Junrey Bano, Djundi Biñas, Danilo Fresnido, Eliezar Sunang, Albert Salcedo, Benigno Marayag, Rodrigo Tanuan, Midel Dequi, Mercedita Manipol, Christabel Martes, Sharon Jizmundo, Rosie Villarito, Lorelie Amahit, Grace Melgar, Jha-An Banayag and Zarah de la Virgo. (Henry C. Villalva)
